Go Joe Bruin
Fansided

UCLA Softball is heading back to the Women’s College World Series

By Mike Regalado

8 Apr 1998: General view of a bat and glove that belong to Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals during a game against the Colorado Rockies at the Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. The Cardinals defeated the Rockies 13-9. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport
8 Apr 1998: General view of a bat and glove that belong to Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals during a game against the Colorado Rockies at the Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. The Cardinals defeated the Rockies 13-9. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport /
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After a two-game sweep of James Madison, the UCLA softball team finds themselves heading back to Oklahoma City for the Women’s College World Series.

There was no threat for the no. 2 UCLA softball team in the Super Regionals. The Bruins had a lot of momentum going into this weekend’s series against James Madison, and it showed.

James Madison might have shocked the nation by taking out the heavily-favored Michigan Wolverines last weekend, but that was all they were going to get in the 2019 NCAA Softball Tournament as the Bruins continued to dominate their opponents.

The Bruins (who are now 51-6 on the year) swept the Dukes in the best-of-three series. On Friday night, UCLA had downed JMU by a score of 6-1 behind a big game from Rachel Garcia as the Pac-12 Pitcher and Player of the Year had a two-hit, four-RBI, one-home run performance at the plate. She did even more damage from the pitching circle as she only allowed two hits and struck out 12 and is now 24-1 on the season.

On Saturday, the Bruins continued their winning ways as they got help from Taylor Pack who came on strong in game 2 of the series. In the top of the third inning, Garcia nailed a hit that brought in two runs. Following that, Pack stepped it up a notch as her home run brought in another two runs, making it 4-0.

The Bruins had another two-RBI inning in the fourth when Aaliyah Jordan smashed one down the right side to make the score 6-0. James Madison was finally able to score in the 6th as they brought in two runs, but it was too little, too late, especially since Pack was not finished with her day.

In the top of the seventh, Pack added some insurance to the score as her solo shot to center gave the Bruins the 7-2 lead and the win.

UCLA now heads to Oklahoma City where they will take the first step in the Women’s College World Series on Thursday against Minnesota.